For a lot of vacationers, airport lounge entry is essential. It not solely gives an area to loosen up earlier than a journey however also can function a perfect place to be productive and get work accomplished.
That is the place American Admirals Membership lounges are available in. There are greater than 50 of them worldwide, and you will get entry by buying a day move for a payment, utilizing American Airways AAdvantage miles or being a cardholder of the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card (see charges and costs), as the cardboard comes with 4 Admirals Membership passes per calendar 12 months.
Nonetheless, one of the simplest ways to entry Admirals Golf equipment is thru one particular bank card: the Citi® / AAdvantage® Govt World Elite Mastercard® (see charges and costs), which is the one card that may get you into Admirals Golf equipment. Whereas it does include a $595 annual payment, the unique lounge entry would possibly make it value including to your pockets.
Why this card is a winner
If you cannot get entry to an Admirals Membership from elite standing or the category of service you are flying, one possibility is to buy a membership. Right here is the annual pricing damaged down by AAdvantage standing degree:

Cheaper than paying for an Admirals Membership membership
When you might pay for Admirals Membership membership, one of the simplest ways to ensure entry into Admirals Golf equipment is to have the Citi / AAdvantage Govt card. You’d truly lower your expenses by having the cardboard versus paying for any of the membership choices, plus you’d earn a profitable welcome bonus if you happen to’re eligible.
As an example, say you have been contemplating buying an Admirals Membership membership as a common AAdvantage member (with no elite standing). As an alternative of paying $850 for entry in your first 12 months (and $800 to resume), you would be higher off making use of for the Citi Govt card and paying the $595 annual payment per 12 months, which might additionally offer you further perks as a cardholder.

The cardboard at present provides 70,000 AAdvantage miles after spending $7,000 on purchases inside the first three months of account opening, value $1,085 based mostly on TPG’s August 2025 valuations.
Associated: Is the Citi / AAdvantage Govt World Elite Mastercard value it?
Licensed person entry
The Citi / AAdvantage Govt card permits you to add as much as three approved customers for $175, then $175 for every further approved person. Licensed customers also can entry Admirals Golf equipment.
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This is applicable whether or not the first cardholder is flying with that particular person or not, a improbable perk that differs notably from related premium playing cards provided by different U.S. carriers.
Be aware that whereas main cardholders have entry to all Admirals Golf equipment (over 50 worldwide) and associate lounges (about 60 worldwide, together with Alaska Airways lounges), approved customers solely get entry to Admirals Golf equipment. Nonetheless, each the first cardholder and every approved person can convey rapid members of the family or as much as two touring visitors into the lounge.
Different Citi Govt card perks
With this Citi card, you may additionally earn 10 miles per greenback spent on eligible lodges and automobile leases booked via the AAdvantage lodge and automobile rental portals.
Moreover, cardholders earn 4 miles per greenback spent on eligible American Airways purchases.
In addition they obtain as much as $120 in assertion credit for eligible Grubhub purchases (as much as $10 per 30 days) and as much as $120 in assertion credit on pay as you go Avis or Funds automobile leases every calendar 12 months.
The cardboard comes with Group 4 precedence boarding and your first checked bag free on home American Airways itineraries for you and as much as eight companions on the identical reservation.

Plus, like many different premium playing cards, this one additionally provides a International Entry or TSA PreCheck software payment credit score. You may stand up to a $120 assertion credit score as soon as each 4 years to reimburse your software payment.
Admirals Membership restrictions
Entry into an Admirals Membership is straightforward.

To enter, you want a Citi / AAdvantage Govt card, an Admirals Membership membership or an Admirals Membership move as a Citi Strata Elite Card holder and a same-day boarding move for American or one in every of its companions to entry an Admirals Membership earlier than or after a flight.
Associated: Finest bank cards for airport lounge entry
Backside line
As a frequent American Airways or Oneworld alliance flyer, the Citi / AAdvantage Govt card is the very best card for Admirals Membership entry, along with many different perks corresponding to assertion credit, Loyalty Level bonuses and respectable incomes charges.
It additionally stands out as a result of it allows you to share lounge entry with family and friends. By including approved customers for an inexpensive payment, you possibly can lengthen the cardboard’s advantages in a approach that an Admirals Membership membership alone would not enable.
To be taught extra, learn our full evaluate of the Citi / AAdvantage Govt World Elite Mastercard.
Apply right here: Citi / AAdvantage Govt World Elite Mastercard